Struck by suspended or swinging objects n.e.c. · Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Scrap Metal Services LLC, 3000 W. 139th Street, BLUE ISLAND, ILLINOIS 60406
on — Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries, affecting the Multiple trunk locations.
Final narrative
On December 28, 2024, at 10:23 AM, the injured employee was spotting for the operator of a shear crane while conducting tree trimming/removal operations. The injured employee was standing about 4 feet from the ground on top of scrap steel trusses. After the shear crane cut the tree, it began dragging a large branch which struck the injured employee and knocked him down onto the scrap pile. He sustained four broken ribs on the left side and a left lung contusion. The employee was hospitalized.
On June 26, 2024, an employee was using a pry bar to flip an aluminum die. The pry bar slipped out and the die crushed the employee's right ring finger, which resulted in a partial fingertip amputation.
An employee was directing traffic and was struck from behind in the legs by an I-beam that was knocked over by a crane. Both of the employee's legs were fractured.
An employee was cutting a steel coil using a 5-foot long torch. When he got to the last section of the cut, the coil broke open and struck his left side (elbow and torso). He suffered bruising and a potential internal injury.
An employee was walking into the motor control center (MCC) room when his right ring finger was caught in the hinge of a doorway. He sustained an open phalanx fracture, which resulted in a partial amputation above the first knuckle.
An employee was stacking concrete blocks for a concrete bunker. As a block was swinging into place, the employee's left leg was pinched between two blocks, resulting in injuries to his left heel and lower leg.
An employee was using a crane to move a 44-foot, 3,343-pound I-beam. As the beam was moving west, it straightened out (north to south), beginning to swing south toward the northwest corner of a building. The crane then sent the beam southward, directly toward the corner of the building. The beam caught the tips of the employee's left index, middle, and ring fingers against the building. The last joints of the middle and ring fingers were amputated, and the last joint of the index finger was partially crushed.
An employee was placing a board on top of a bundle of steel tubing. A crane was moving a bundle of steel that struck the employee and caught them against another bundle of steel tubing. The employee sustained a crushing injury and hematoma to the right upper leg.
Employees were using a crane to lower large tree stems and branches while removing limbs and branches from the load. This caused the load to shift and strike an employee in the back, resulting in a hematoma on the lower left part of their back and a fractured ankle.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 331492)
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On May 14, 2025, an employee was sitting cross-legged and removing a pneumatic rail car vibrator from its bracket to empty the next pocket in the rail car. When the employee went to set the vibrator down, he placed it on a hammer that was sitting in front of him and the vibrator teetered to the side, catching his little finger. The employee sustained an amputated fingertip at the first knuckle.
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